Sometimes, the phrase
“every vote counts” isn’t as simple as it sounds. Minnesota
is finding that out now in the never-ending pursuit of a U.S. senator.
In that case, Norm Coleman and Al Franken each want every vote counted, but
there is disagreement over “legally cast” ballots. At any rate, the closeness
of that race illustrates that each vote is important.

The Minnesota Supreme
Court on Thursday issued a decision that affirms an experiment in a voting
process that puts true meaning to another voting phrase, “majority rules.”

The ruling, written by
Chief Justice Eric Magnuson, upholds the constitutionality of Minneapolis’ instant runoff voting
methodology, also known as ranked choice voting. The system allows voters to
rank their choices on the ballot, assuring that the eventual winner is a
majority winner of all votes case — 50 percent plus one vote — rather than the
highest vote-getter but still not garnering a majority.